Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly on Monday launched an offensive that his team desperately could've used three nights earlier.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Mattingly vented his frustration toward the Dodgers organization at what started as a routine end-of-the-season media session with Mattingly and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti.
The Times reported that Mattingly, who took the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series before the team lost in six games to the St. Louis Cardinals, revealed that once the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in the National League Divisional Series, the franchise was contractually obligated to retain him for 2014.
The Dodgers were held scoreless in a 9-0 loss to St. Louis in the deciding Game 6 on Friday night.
When the initial question about returning to the team next season was asked, Mattingly swung for the fences.
"My option vested once we beat Atlanta," Mattingly said. "That doesn't mean I'll be back.
"It's been a frustrating, tough year, honestly, because I think when you ... come in basically as a lame duck and with the ($230-million) payroll and the guys that you have, it puts you in a tough spot in the clubhouse. So we dealt with that all year long, and really what it does, it puts me in a spot where everything I do is questioned. Because I'm basically trying out, auditioning to say, 'Can you manage a team or not manage?' It's a tough spot. To me it gets to that point where, three years in you either know or you don't."
Mattingly reportedly was days away from being fired when Los Angeles was in last place in the National League West with a 30-42 record in June with that large payroll. But Yasiel Puig and the return of some of the Dodgers injured starters to the lineup spurred a 42-8 record over the next 50 games that helped them run away with the West crown.
Mattingly just finished his third year as manager in Los Angeles. The team's trip to the playoffs this season was its first during his tenure.
The Times reported that Colletti appeared uncomfortable at the press conference but said that the team would address Mattingly's contract situation "very quickly."
"I have tremendous confidence and faith in this guy," Colletti said.
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